TENNIS fans can give their loved ones a Christmas present to remember by buying tickets early for the 2017 Aegon Ilkley Trophy.

Prices will be pegged at 2016 levels until December 31 for the pre-Wimbledon tournament, which will be staged at the Stourton Road club from June 17-25.

It will be the most lucrative pre-Grand Slam challenger on the circuit next year, with men's prize being tripled to $150,000 (it was originally going to be increased to $125,000) and the women's doubled to $100,000.

Tickets are available at www.lta.org.uk/major-events/aegon-trophy-series/aegon-ilkley-trophy/tickets.

This will be the third time that Ilkley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club will have staged Yorkshire's most important tournament and, due to sell-out weekend crowds for 2015 and 2016, an extra 100 tickets have been made available for next year's finals days.

Reserved Centre Court tickets for the final three days (June 23-25) cost £15 if snapped up early, while a ground pass on the Friday and a reserved ticket for Show Court Two on the Saturday each cost £10. Ground passes for Monday to Thursday cost £5.

Family tickets (two adults and two children) can be purchased for £37.50 for the final three days or £25 for a Friday ground pass or reserved Show Court Two tickets for the Saturday.

With wild cards to Wimbledon in the offing for the champions and top-100 players again expected to enter, Ilkley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club's chairman Stephen Hepplewhite said: “Next year will be exceptional for the Aegon Ilkley Trophy.

"We have seen over the previous two years that there is a real appetite from fans, friends and families to enjoy a professional tennis event here in Ilkley, and we are extremely proud to be able to offer visitors and players alike such a fantastic experience, both on and off the courts.

"As the event grows, we will grow with it, cementing our place in the international tennis calendar.”

There has been significant investment at the club over the last 18 months, including new fitness suites, a larger gym and outside terracing, as well as improvements to the drainage, plus inflatable covers for the two show courts.

These have been welcomed by the players, with confirmed Ilkley fan Marcus Daniell, who won the men's doubles there in 2015, saying: “The changes that have been made to the clubhouse are impressive.

"The gym is world class, and the fitness room on the top floor is a perfect stretching and preparation area for players.

"The organisers' dedication to improving the event is evident in all areas.

"The players were very happy. We just need to keep the rain away for 2017!”